Blount says he 'could play 100 more years' with Patriots

LeGarrette Blount loves playing in New England and it is where the Patriots running back wants to stay.

Blount, 30, is set to become a free agent, but would like to spend the rest of his career with NFL Super Bowl champions the Patriots.

"I just want to make sure that I go to this free agency with an open mind knowing that I definitely want to go back to New England," Blount told NFL Network.

"I love it there. I love the culture. I love the players. I've become close with a lot of the guys. Obviously you know how my running back group is. We'll cross that bridge whenever we cross it. On that point, I feel great.

"I'm in amazing shape. I feel like I could play 100 more years if I have to."

Blount is coming off the best season of his seven-year career, rushing for 1,161 yards and an NFL-best 18 touchdowns.

His only other 1,000-yard season came in 2010, when he ran for 1,007 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Since joining the Patriots in 2014, Blount has been a part of two Super Bowl championship teams.

Blount ran for just 40 yards on 14 carries in New England's 28-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 49.

He only had 31 yards on 11 carries and fumbled against the Atlanta Falcons, but called the come-from-behind 34-28 overtime victory in Super Bowl LI the "biggest game of his career."

"Being part of a comeback that was unheard of was something," Blount said. "Seeing it happen was crazy. I still can't see how we pulled it off."

Blount praised Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, who have led the Patriots to five Super Bowl titles in seven title game appearances since 2001.

Blount was also one of the first to greet fellow running back James White after the latter scored his third touchdown of the game, which was the deciding score in overtime.

"Right when we got into that formation, I knew what the play was and knew we were going to score," Blount said. "There was nothing that was going to stop him. He had an amazing game.

"Once we got the play call, I was already getting ready to run out there and celebrate with him."